Andrew Perne

Andrew Perne (c. 1519 - April 26, 1589), Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University and dean of Ely, was the son of John Perne of East Bilney, Norfolk.

He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating BA in 1539, BD in 1547 and DD in 1552. He was elected fellow of St John's in 1540 [ [http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/petreans/eminent_petreans.html#andrew_perne Peterhouse: Eminent Petreans] ] but moved to Queens' later that year. He was successively bursar and dean of Queens', culminating in becoming vice-president in 1551, and was five times vice-chancellor of the university; but he owes his notoriety to his remarkable versatility, and, like the Vicar of Bray, he was always faithful to the national religion, whatever it might be.

In April 1547 he advocated Catholic doctrines, but recanted two months later, and his Protestant faith was strengthened during Edward VI's reign; he was appointed a royal chaplain and canon of Windsor. Soon after Mary's accession, however, he perceived the error of his ways and was made master of Peterhouse in 1553 and dean of Ely in 1557.

He preached the sermon in 1556 when the bodies of Bucer and Fagius were disinterred and burnt for heresy, and also in 1560 when these proceedings were reversed and the dead heretics were rehabilitated. In Elizabeth's reign he subscribed the Thirty-nine Articles, denounced the pope and tried to convert Abbot Feckenham to Protestantism; and in 1584 Whitgift in vain recommended him for a bishopric.

He was selected as the type of Anglican prelate by the authors of the Martin Marprelate tracts and other Puritans, who nicknamed him "Old Andrew Turncoat," "Andrew Ambo," "Old Father Palinode." Cambridge wits, it was said, translated "perno" by "I turn, I rat, I change often"; and a coat that had often been turned was said to have been "perned."

On his death, he bequeathed the greater part of his library to Peterhouse, together with the funds to house it in what is now the Perne library there.

References

*1911